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Bozeman man helps Mongolian school

A Bozeman man in the adventure-travel business plans to help Mongolians develop a tourist camp which could provide sustainable financing to improve the region’s largest school.

By JOAN HAINES For the Chronicle

Kent Madin, owner of Boojum Expeditions, is working on a project to establish a countryside inn on the grounds of a 600-student school in Renchinlhumbe, (Lhumbe for short) in northern Mongolia.

The area, bordered by snow-covered mountains, is in the Darhat Valley, a place becoming more popular with travelers making a loop linking Khovsgol National Park with Khovsgol Lake, Madin said Friday. No tourist facilities exist there now.

Traveling to the area is "like going to Montana 150 years ago," Madin said. "You can ride from east to west and only open one gate."

Madin’s idea is to use money to improve the school, raise teachers’ salaries and set up a ger (native tent) camp to improve the quality of the natives’ education. A ger is a round wall tent made of felt and bound with horsehair, with rafters cut from Siberian larch.

Some businessmen in the tourist industry believe money gained from visitors will trickle down to the native people, Madin said.

Mongolians would decide what kind of services to offer and would have control of the business. The camp is envisioned to include a number of tents, a central dining hall/kitchen and central bathroom/bathing facilities.

The budget target for the camp and renovation of existing wooden buildings is $13,000, Madin said. Boojum Expeditions has contributed $2,000 and the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation has given $5,000.

"I estimate in three years, the income from the camp will add 50 percent to the annual school budget," Madin said.

"Travelers would "have to pay with more than a credit card," he said. "They’d have to pay with a willingness to deal with (the native) culture."

People wanting to support the project can send tax-deductible contributions to Renchinlhumbe School Ger Camp in care of Boojum Expeditions, 14543 Kelly Canyon Road, Bozeman, 59715. The money will be administered by the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation.

Boojum’s office manager in Bozeman, Ariunbolor (BoBo) Dorjsembe, said, "There’s a good chance local people can improve their lives. When I heard about the project for the first time, I thought "Wow!"

National Geographic photographer and adventurer, Gordon Wiltsie of Bozeman said, "I’ve been a supporter of this. I think it’s a great idea. The town (Renchinlhumbe) has a tremendous tourism potential, but absolutely no tourist facilities. It’s an opportunity for (native) people to work with foreigners and for a mutual exchange of ideas."

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2003/05/25/news/mongoloidsbzbigs.txt

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